Premier highlights key role of Fujian FTZ

Premier Li Keqiang visits a service center in Xiamen, part of the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), on April 22.

Premier Li Keqiang visited Xiamen, part of the newly-inaugurated China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), on April 22, in a show of support and encouragement for the zone’s development.

The visit was also to learn more about the success of administrative streamlining and reform of commercial registrations in the zone.

Enterprises that previously had to visit four departments for administrative approvals will be able to complete all the procedures through a new platform.

“The FTZ should be the highland of reforms, instead of merely being a place that gathers preferential policies. You should have the courage to undertake reforms and innovation. Today, I’m here to give you more encouragement,” Li said.

One person told Li that procedures have been much simplified and the efficiency of customs clearance has been greatly improved.

“As the beneficiaries of FTZ reforms, you should also do a good job in supervising the government and abiding by the rules,” Li said.

According to one of the employees at the zone, the departments are catering efficiently to the needs of the public now, which was not always the case before.

“That’s right,” the Premier said, adding that the government is not simply regulating enterprises by administrative supervision, it is also catering to their needs.

“The better it serves the companies, the more motivated they are, thus stimulating vitality of the market and society,” he said.

The Premier showed a great deal of interest on reform measures that simplified the registration system.

Under the new measures, enterprises only need to apply for one license and one registration number from three departments, greatly simplifying what had been a cumbersome procedure.

“This will greatly facilitate market players as it is the most difficult part of commercial registration system reform,” he said.

The Premier noted the importance of sticking to both streamlining administrative procedures and opening up when developing the FTZ.

“The wheel of administrative streamlining should start working first, to clear barriers and offer greater convenience for enterprises, thus shortening the time for them to finish procedures. Then, the door of opening up will be wider,” he said.